CWC a “Pakistan Working Committee” BJP Slams Congress Over Surgical Strike Remark
The BJP on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing it of demoralising the armed forces and “echoing Pakistan’s narrative” following comments by Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi questioning the 2019 surgical strikes.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the Congress of repeatedly undermining India’s national security and providing “oxygen” to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism through its rhetoric.
“Outwardly, it may be the Congress Working Committee (CWC), but inwardly, it’s the Pakistan Working Committee (PWC),” Patra said, in a pointed remark referencing the Congress’ internal leadership body. His comments came after Channi, a former Punjab Chief Minister, raised doubts about the authenticity of the 2019 surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation to the Pulwama terror attack.
“The Congress party, after its Working Committee meeting, had Charanjit Singh Channi address a press conference where he questioned the very existence of the surgical strikes. This isn’t just irresponsible, it’s dangerous,” Patra asserted.
He further linked the Congress’ actions to the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting that such political statements damage the morale of security forces and embolden adversaries.
Escalating the political war of words, Patra cited remarks made in Pakistan’s Parliament by PTI Senator Saifullah Abro, who reportedly praised Indian opposition leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Akhilesh Yadav for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
“In Pakistan’s Parliament, they are praising the Indian Opposition. Rahul Gandhi probably didn’t want to be left out, so he pushed Channi forward to speak,” Patra alleged.
He claimed that Congress’ language is now “in sync with Pakistan’s interests” and warned that such alignment poses a threat to India’s internal security and public trust in the armed forces.
The BJP has demanded a public explanation from Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Charanjit Singh Channi. Patra said the Congress must clarify why it continues to “speak in a language that Pakistan finds convenient.”
“This isn’t mere political posturing. This is a betrayal of national interest,” he said.
The 2019 surgical strikes were launched by Indian forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF personnel. The operation was widely publicised by the government and has since been a recurring theme in electoral campaigns.
However, opposition parties have occasionally demanded proof or questioned the government’s handling of such events, drawing criticism from the BJP, which frames such questioning as anti-national or demoralising for the military.
